Pastor appreciation dinner is Sunday at middle school

MARSHALL – Pastors will get the tables turned on them next month – instead of serving and supporting others, an evening has been planned where they are center of attention.

The third annual Marshall area pastor appreciation dinner will be Sunday at Marshall Middle School, 401 East Saratoga St., Marshall.

“We want to honor these folks, honor what they do,” said Bruce Saugstad of The Legacy Foundation, which is sponsoring the event. “We want to thank them for serving their church and for the impact they have on our community.”

The evening will feature “clean comedian” Bob Stromberg and is billed as an evening of “fun, food and fellowship” honoring Marshall area pastors. The meal will be provided by Hitching Post of Marshall. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Treasured Times, Hy-Vee or online at marshall.webconnex.com/pastor. Email info@legacymarshall.org for more information. Proceeds will be donated to House of Hope Minnesota and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Saugstad said the Legacy Foundation’s attendance goal for the dinner is “300-plus,” with “30-ish” pastors attending.

“We’ve invited all the pastors and youth pastors in Marshall and surrounding cities,” Saugstad said. “There are 25 churches in Marshall alone.”

The Legacy Foundation was founded in January 2011. Its activities are led by 11 people on the board of directors.

“It’s a Christian group comprised of people from various denominations who share their faith in the workplace,” he said.

The group meets monthly for lunch and has speakers and weekly prayer meetings and also has an annual leadership seminar, the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast.

Saugstad said for this year’s appreciation dinner they decided to “step it up a notch” and provide entertainment in the form of comedian and inspirational speaker Stromberg.

Stromberg, who lives in St Paul, has traveled all over the world performing a “blend of story, standup and shtick,” according to his website, bobstromberg.com. He’s is the co-author and one of the original stars of the theatrical comedy, “Triple Espresso.”

“It’s family friendly entertainment,” Saugstad said. “It should be good.”